Dec 22, 2015


Thank you for another year of exciting activities. More to come in 2016. Merry Christmas!

Dec 15, 2015

Life of Pi: Vocabulary Practice - Animals

One of my all times favorite movies. Life of Pi is an unforgettable experience. The opening scene is perfect for all beginners levels working with vocabulary related to zoo animals. Kids love it!


Small groups - GAME:

I. Make a list of all the zoo animals  you can remember.
II. Watch the segment. Check how many animals you guessed correctly.
The winner is the group who guesses most correct animals.




III. Guessing game:

Have students mime the animals for the other peers to guess what animal they are imitating. They cannot make any sounds.


KEY:

Here are the animals I managed to see. You may decide how specific they have to be (ex: Monkey or proboscis monkey/ boa constrictor or snake)

giraffe 
hummingbird.  
sloth 
flamingo 
Red-Cheeked Gibbon  
zebra
parakeets
boars
bear
elephant
hippo
pig
boa constrictor
cheetah
tapirs
deer
birds
proboscis monkey
rhino
tiger
iguana

Nov 30, 2015

Moonrise Kingdom: Present Continuous


I. Watch the movie segment. Pay attention to what the characters are doing.





II. Ask and answer the questions:

Ex: 
What are the children (they) doing?
They are playing.


1. What ___________________ ?
     She ____________________.



2. What ___________________?
They ______________________



3. ____________________________?
    ____________________________.



4. ______________________________?
________________________________.



5. ____________________________?
______________________________



7. ____________________________?
The  boy _______________________.






Talk to a friend:

1. What are you doing now?
2. What is the teacher doing now?
3. What is your family doing now?
4. Why is the girls always using binoculars?
5. Is this a happy family? Why (not)?


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MOONRISE KINGDOM

Nov 15, 2015

Despicable Me 2: Simple Past - Was / Were


Here is another great activity provided by Pedro Urbano, one of this blog's readers. His activities are wonderful and this one is no exception. Thanks, Pedro, once again.


I've been teaching English for nine years working with teens, adults, and seniors. Creating songs activities and especially movie worksheets are my features. Today, I'm part of ICBEU teacher team - Manaus (a dream of 13 years that came true), working with teens and adults.




Before you watch:

Look at these questions. Choose the best answer:

How do people feel when…

1.    They meet someone special in their lives?
a.  Terrific and exhausted;
b.  Hurt and energized;
c.  Marvelous and terrific;
d.  Terrible and hurt.
2. 
   Someone special leaves their lives?
a.    Empty and admired;
b.    Crushed and abandoned;
c.    Amused and optimistic;
d.    Amused and admired.

While you watch

Watch the movie segment. Check the correct responses according to the movie segment.





1.    Who was Gru in front of the house with?

a.    He was with the Minions;
b.    He was with a woman;
c.    He was with the kids;
d.    He was alone.

2.    How was the date according to the woman?
a.    It was quiet;
b.    It was crazy;
c.    It was fun;
d.    It was ok.

3.    How was Gru after the kiss?
a.    He was happy;
b.    He was sad;
c.    He was nervous;
d.    He was angry.

After you watch

Look at the sentences. Check T (true) or F (false)

1.    Gru was on a date with a woman in the morning.    T (     )     F (     )
2.    In the following day, he was very disappointed.      T (     )     F (     )
3.    The woman said good bye to Gru.                          T (     )     F (     )

4.    He was terrific after she said good bye.                  T (     )     F (     )


Oct 30, 2015

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: Expressing Opinions



I. Watch the scene and write down every symbol or procedure of the wedding that you  don't know the meaning or what they represent. 






Ex: I don't know why the bride wears red.

II. Form small groups. As your friends if they know the answers to your questions. They have to express their opinions, using the expressions below:


I believe ...
I guess ...
I think ...
It could be ...
To my mind...
I would say that...
I presume...
I have the feeling that...

III. Surf the net and find the answers to your questions. Suggested sites:



Oct 15, 2015

Shaun the Sheep: Simple Present

This movie is marvelous. You must see it. Nothing is said in this scene, so it is very easy even for beginners. I used it to practice the simple present tense.









I. Watch the movie segment with attention. Write the activities next to the character (s) below.




SHEEP:
Ex: Wake up early

SPIDER
Ex; Wake up early

FARMER

DOG

ROOSTER


WAKE UP EARLY

READ THE NEWSPAPER

COMB THE HAIR

PUT ON DEODORANT

PLAY WITH THE BABY

HELP THE SHEEP CROSS THE BRIDGE

SHAVE

CROW*

COUNT THE SHEEP


II. Write four sentences saying what the characters do every day.

Ex: The spider wakes up early every day.

III. Write four sentences saying what the characters DON'T DO every day.

Ex; The spider doesn't shave in the morning.


ANSWER KEY:

WAKE UP EARLY - ALL
READ THE NEWSPAPER - DOG
COMB THE HAIR - SHEEP
SPRAY DEODORANT - FARMER
PLAY WITH THE BABY - SHEEP
HELP THE SHEEP CROSS THE BRIDGE - FARMER, DOG
SHAVE - SHEEP, FARMER
CROW *(to make the loud, high sound that a rooster makes) - ROOSTER



MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SHAUN THE SHEEP






Sep 30, 2015

Frozen: Vocabulary Practice



This vocabulary activity based on the monster hit "Let It Go" was provided by a reader from Peru, Margarita Jara de La Roca. Thanks Margarita for your contribution. I hope you all like it.



I studied at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.  I got a title as an English/Spanish Teacher.  I worked as an English Teacher in two institutions, the first one was at La Alegría en el Señor as a voluntary teacher. This private school characterizes of providing specialized teaching to children who have physical handicap but not mental.  It was a nice experience working there.  I also worked for a short time at SENATI, an institute who prepares young fellows to be technicians.  I have also worked as freelance teacher and translator.  I love the children and enjoy teaching.  For this reason, in spite that I am not teaching at any institution, I invite children of my neighborhood by the end of the year to teach them Christmas carols and some handcraft to celebrate Christmas together.

At present I am a Perú TESOL member and, I am also a member of the Fellowship women at Union Church.

I like technology, although I am not an expert, when I saw Claudio Azevedo's blog, I wanted to produce something similar.  It was exciting to do it and I felt very pleased after it.

My name is Margarita Jara de la Roca.  I am Peruvian and live in Lima, Perú. Here is a link to my blog - English Support









SOME QUOTES FOR THIS VIDEO


LOVE IS PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE’S NEEDS BEFORE YOURS.
     
HI, I’M OLAF AND I LIKE
WARM HUGS

I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THE IDEA OF SUMMER AND ALL THINGS HOT

WINTER IS A GOOD TIME
TO STAY IN AND CUDDLE


LET IT GO – Idina Menzel

Lyrics:

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen.
A kingdom of isolation,
and it looks like I'm the Queen
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in; heaven knows I tried

Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
Well now they know

LET IT GO, LET IT GO
Can't hold it back anymore
LET IT GO, LET IT GO

Turn away and slam the door
I don't care what they're going to say
let the storm rage on.
The cold never bothered me anyway

It's funny how some distance
makes everything seem small
and the fears that once controlled me
can't get to me at all

It's time to see what I can do
to test the limits and break through
no right, no wrong, no rules for me,
I'm free!

LET IT GO, LET IT GO
I’m one with the wind and sky
LET IT GO, LET IT GO
You'll never see me cry
here I stand and here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on

My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back, the past is in the past

LET IT GO, LET IT GO
and I'll rise like the break of dawn
LET IT GO, LET IT GO
that perfect girl is gone
Here I stand
in the light of day
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway!


Vocabulary

Glow (v) – to produce a continuous light
Howling (adj.) – to be very successful
Swirl (v) - to move quickly with a circular movement
Conceal (v) - to prevent ST from being seen or discovered
Rage (n) – extreme or violent anger
Funny (adj) – humorous, causing laughter
Break through (ph v) to force yourself through ST that is holding you back
Flurry (v) – (of snow) to fall or be blown in a flurry
Fractal (n) – a geometric figure
Blast (n) – (event) an exciting or enjoyable experience or event, often a party
Break of dawn (n) – the early part of the morning when the sun first appears

Antonyms
Conceal ≠ Show
Rage ≠ Joy
Funny ≠ Serious
Synonyms
Glow = radiate, flush
Howling = wonderful, fantastic
Blast = clap, boom, good time


Make a sentence with the following words

am queen I looks It like the

……………………………….

of like will the dawn I break rise

……………………………….

me anyway cold bothered The never

……………………………….

Fill in the blanks with the following words

 

   limits   time  cry  small   rules   funny   fears   right  
 

It's ………… how some distance makes everything seem ………… and the ………… that once controlled me
can't get to me at all. It's ………… to see what I can do
to test the ………… and break through no …………., no wrong, no ………… for me, I'm free!
Let it go, let it go. I’m one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go. You'll never see me …………
Here I stand and here I'll stay, let the storm rage on

Sep 15, 2015

About Time: Simple Present



This great activity was provided by an Argentinean teacher, Fernanda Delgado. It is a great contribution. I am sure my readers will simply love it. Send us more, Fernanda!



I'm a teacher at the Oak House, Cipolletti. I founded a school for toddlers called Tiny School, which was very successful.Then I sold it.
I enjoy teaching because I can match my love for English with my love for movies and songs to create a useful activity which may enable the students to achieve their goals (or mine) and also make them engaged with the learning process.

Nowadays I am teaching young adults at Prefectura Naval Argentina and in my new place (Oak House)








I. Make a list of activities you usually do.

  1. I prepare breakfast
  1.  
  1.  

  1.  
  1.  

  1.  
  1.  

  1.  
  1.  

  1.  
 II.  Ask your partner if he/she does it.


S1:  Do you PREPARE BREAKFAST ?

S2: Yes, I do / No, I don't


III.  Watch the segment now. Observe what people do. Tick the verbs you see and compare them with your list.


IV. Speak about the similarities:

Ex: 

S1 - He prepares breakfast.
S2: I do too

V.  Write sentences in your notebook.


PEOPLE IN THE MOVIE
ME
GO SHOPPING                       
HAVE A BREAK
HAVE FUN
READ
SLEEP
PREPARE BREAKFAST
TALK

VI. Speak about roles the women and men in the segment perform. Are they the same or different from our country? Is there anything you want to point out?

VII. Read the passage of the song "I'm the Luckiest" and tell me why believes so.

I don't get many things right the first time

In fact, I am told that a lot 

Now I know all the wrong turns the stumbles

And falls brought me here 

And where was I before the day 

That I first saw your lovely face 

Now I see it every day 

And I know[Chorus] That I am

I am, I am, the luckiest



Fernanda Delgado – Patagonia - Argentina


WORKSHEET


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - ABOUT TIME